Foot-throttle mechanism.



F. C. SMITH.

FOOT THROTTLE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION r1150 MAR. 14. 1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

F. C. SMHH. FOOT THROTTLE ME CHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4. I917.

1,295 88 Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Parana rannnnron c. smrn, or MARIGN, 01110.

FGGT-THROTTLE MECHANISM. I

Application filed March 14, 1917.

I T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FEEDER)" 1 C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have I invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Throttle Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foot throttle controlling mechanism for regulating the supply of fuel to automobile engines. The mechanism as designed is arranged to insure a steady supply of fuel at all times and-of the quantity necessary to operate the engine.

The object of my lnvention is to provide a device which operates in conjunction with the ordinary foot throttle as usually installed and to prevent'variation in pressure on the foot throttle in order to maintain the supply of fuel constant. The device comprises a foot pedal or rest which is provided with a pivoted bearing preferably located between the heel and toe portion of the foot plate associated with and forming part of the pedai mechanism. Vfhen the foot pedal is pressed forward the foot throttle is operated thereby allowing the fuel to be supplied to the engine. The foot pedal is provided with a suitable friction device sufiieient to overcome the tension of the foot throttle thereby holding it in any desired. adjusted position.

The particular object of'my invention is the design of the foot plate itself which is arranged to accommodate the shoe of drivers which may be of different shape. The foot plate is designed to receive the shoe of a man or woman so that the foot remains in a natural resting position when driving the car. supply but a small amount of fuel the pedal is operated in a forward position to a certain degree and in order to increase the supply of fuel the forward movement is increased. If it is so desired the foot can be removed from the pedal which will maintain its position and cause the proper amount of fuel to be supplied. Urdinarily in driving over rough roads a certain amount of vibration is extended to the foot of the driverthereby causing an uneren flow of fuel when operating the ordinary foot throttle. With the device as outlined however, the variations are taken up and the foot remains in a natural position.

The foot plate at the heel portion is pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

In operating the car and in order to I ?atented Feb. 25, rare.

Serial No. 154,645.

vided with a recess or rest for accommodating the heel of a womans shoe. The flange or portion surrounding the recess is arranged to receive the heel of a mans shoe. Both the heel and toe portions are provided with extending flanges to prevent the foot slipping from the plate.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view showing the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing a foot plate and an adjustable support.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1 looking toward the toe portion of the device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a modification of a foot plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4: wherein a recess is provided for receiving the heel of a womans shoe.

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the foot plate 5 is provided with a tongue or angle portion 4 fastened to the underside of the foot plate. This portion 4i is adapted to engage the head 40 of the foot throttle 41.

The foot plate 5 is formed with a recess 56 extending entirely across the heel portion. The plate is also provided with the arch support 54 and with the raised flanges 2 and 3;

The plate 5 is provided with th adjustable bearing 44: fastened to the plat. by means of the bolts and nuts its shown in Fig. 2 this support is prove d "xrith thesle-s 70 so as to allow longitudinal adjustment of the foot plate 5. The bearing 1. 2 is pro; ided with a tongue or extension 48 sided with an opening through which .e ho 51 passes. This bolt engages the slot of the friction disk 52 which is held in place by means of the bolt and nut 57. This friction device is fastened to the under bearing 55, fastened to the fioor of the car 50 between the hearing 55 and the flicfiin is fiber washer 75. This fiber washer is i id in place by means of the bolt 57 which engages the support The adjuetn v bearing it rocks upon a bolt 1L8 which passes through the support 42 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This built is held in place by means of the nut 47.

In operating the device the foot. plate rocks upon the bolt 48 supported by the bearing 42 which is mounted upon the upper surface of the floor of the car by means of the screws or bolts 43. In rocking the pedal or foot plate sufiicient pressure has to be used to Overcome the tension of the friction bearing 52 which binds against the support 55.

In addition to the fiber washer acting as afriction device a spiral spring of sufficient tension can also be added to cause the disk 52 to bear against the bearing 55. (Such a spring is shown in my pending applica tion, Serial No. 126,670, filed October 20, 1916.) The tension can then be readily increased by turning the bolt 58.

It will be noted that the foot plate 5 is provided with the recess 56 for accommodating the heel of awomans shoe. When a man is operating the device, however, the

-heel of his shoe will extend over the recess 55.

Referring to Fig. 4:, a top plan view is shown of the foot plate of Figs. 1 and 2. This view plainly shows the raised flanges 2 for preventing the toe of the shoe from slipping from the plate.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that the heel portion is provided with a recess 61 which is formed by pressing in the metal of the plate. This form of foot plate can readily be fastened in place of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as the openings 65 and 66 are arranged to cooperate with the bolts and nuts 45.

From the foregoingdescription. it will be noted that the foot plate is provided with a plurality of heel rests to accommodate the heels of different shaped shoes.

This arrangement is made to allow the pressure of the foot of the various drivers to bear the same relation to the pivot bearing upon which the plate rocks.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A foot plate comprising a heel andtoe portion, an adjustable bearing for said plate situated between the heel and toe portion and upon which the plate rocks, a heel rest at the heel portion of, the plate comvided with a supporting surface and a. re-

cess, said surface and said recess serving to support the heel of a shoe.

1. A foot throttle controlling mechanism, comprising a foot plate provided with aheel portion, said heel portion being provided with a heel supporting surface and an additional heel supporting portion formed by a depression in said bearing surface.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK 0. SMITH.

WVitnesses MARY 0011s, CHARLES L. JUSTICE. 

